economy
February 16, 2026
CNBC Daily Open: Muted U.S. CPI and cooling tensions with Iran give investors some comfort
The U.S. consumer price index on Friday stateside provided some balm to investors, who have been singed by drops in the market because of AI-related fears
TL;DR
- U.S. consumer inflation (CPI) for January rose 2.4% year-on-year, down from 2.7% in December and below economist expectations.
- Core CPI was 2.5%, the lowest since April 2021.
- Markets showed tentative movements, with major indexes ending the week lower due to ongoing uncertainty about AI's impact.
- Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are cooling, with a second round of talks scheduled regarding Iran's nuclear program.
- Japan's economy expanded 0.1% in Q4 2025, reversing a contraction but missing forecasts.
- Peter Navarro suggested data centers may have to 'internalize' costs.
- The release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein has led to several high-profile resignations.
- Warner Bros. may reopen sale talks with Paramount.
- Consumer staples are rallying in 2026 as investors shift away from tech stocks.
- Key figures in AI, including CEOs from Anthropic, Microsoft, Mistral AI, and Meta, are set to speak at the AI Impact Summit in India.
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